Plastic hinge construction for boxes and the like



Oct. 24, 1950 F. H. MAGNUS.

a PLASTIC HINGE CONSTRUCTION FCR BoxEs AND THE LIKE Filevd sept. 1'2, 1947 ATTQRNEY Patented Oct. 24, 12950 i ouirsofsmrje .Parem torri-cn A, l n .,{21527318 Y. l I ,t t

.5' PLASTIC CoNsraporrIoN` Fon .-f 5995.155. AND THFKE. f Y Finn Magnus, Essex Fells, iNclg'fassl-grorrto Magnus Research, Incorprated';a'orporation of New Jersey The invention rentes A"partiefiieirijf"to improved hinge rconstructions for boxes or receptacles :and thelik'e fori'n'edV of plastic material. 1.

prime -object Yof thefpresentsinvention is to sprovide a; box uor receptacleffofthis classiwitha body section and a cover section having hinge members provided with., improved means for maintaining the sectinsi "in hinged relation.

Another object is to provide a box or receptacle '0f- :this kind; having a body. section and. fazfcover section with aligned cooperating hinge members formed integrally therewith and held in hinged relation by parts disposed between said hinged members and formed integrally with said body and cover sections.

Still another object is to provide a box or receptacle with improved means for holding the cover section of the box in open or closed position.

Other objects of the invention are to providea hinge construction that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and possesses the strength and rigidity necessary for heavy or moderately heavy duty.

The invention will be better understood from the description thereof tofollow taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in Which- Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box embodying the invention. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view showing the body section and cover` section of the box disassembled.

Figure 3 is a rear view showing the body section and cover section of the box disassembled.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar View showing the cover in open position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawing, the improved hinge construction is illustrated as embodied in a box or receptacle formed of plastic material, such as the material sold under the trade name Bakelite but it may be made of any other suitable material. The box is shown substantially rectangular in shape having a lower or body section I and an upper or cover section 2. The rear wall 3 of the cover section is formed adjacent each of its ends with an integral hinge leaf or member 4, the body portion of which tapers downwardly and outwardly of the rear wall and terminates in a semi-cylindrical or beaded portion I 'L pplicat'ion september 12, 19477seriaino-77avo7 M t (creen-.310K

2 f or knuckle 5. The knuckle extendsslightly'rbelow -the lwertedge' 6 of the `cover `section as shownu in *Figures 'land 2.1?"A `hinge pin I "is -formednintegrally with the knuckles and forms l'a connection. between the two hinge members, `the `=p'in Abeing aligned axially with the knuckles 5 and'fspaced 'outwardly ofthe rear .walls of the rbox sections. -The covercsection xis Vformed with a slotted portionffalong :its lower edge,` about .midway its ends., .A

The lower or body section I is formed with similar hinge leaves or members 9 spaced on its rear wall IU, but each member tapers upwardly and outwardly and terminates in a semi-circular groove II adjacent the upper edge I El of said body section as best shown in Figure 2. When the sections of the box are assembled as shown in Figure 1, the knuckles 5 seat in the grooves I I.

The means for retaining the box sections in assembled hinge relationincludes a tongue member I 2 integral with the upper edge I0' of the body section and extending upwardly'therefrom and outwardly thereof forming a flange portion I3 at its upper end which projects over the hinge pin '1. The slotted portion 8 of the cover section permits this arrangement. The hinge pin is formed at its center for substantially one-half its circumference with an enlargement I4 extending the length of the flange I3 and having a flat face I5 along one side and having another at face I6 extending at right angles to the face I5.

The sections of the box are assembled or connected by moving them into registering relation by forcing the enlargement of the hinge pin underneath the flange I3 whereby due to the resiliency of the plastic material the flange I3 will be sufficiently flexed upwardly and the hinge pin 1 will be sufciently bowed or bent downwardly to permit the knuckles 5 to snap into their seats in the grooves I I.

By reason of this construction, when the cover section is in closed position as shown in Figure 4, the ange I3 is in engagement with the at surface I Bof the hinge pin and becausesaid 'at surface is offset from the axis of the hinge pin.

a continuous pressure is exerted by the flange through the hinge pin on the sections of the box thereby holding the cover section rmly in closed position.

When moving the cover section from the closed position of Figure 4 to the open position of Figure 5, the hinge pin with its enlargement is rotated, .the enlargement serving as a pivot point, so that the fiat surface I6 is moved away from and the flat surface I5 is moved into engagement with the flange I3, the cover section moving freely in an arc 90 degrees. During this opening movement, the tension on the hinge pin is increased as the shoulder I'I of the enlargement slides across the flange I3. When in open position, the flange I3 is continuously pressing downwardly on the flat surface I5 of the hinge pin because of the off center position of said flat surface thereby holding the cover section in open position.

A lug I8 is integrally formed on the surface of the hinge pin opposite to and centrally of the enlargement, which lug is adapted to engage the rear wall I0 of the body section I for limiting the opening movement of the cover section as shown in Figure 5. I Y I Changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the scope or principle of the invention.

WhatIclaimisL-f' l 1- In a plastic boxhaving a body section and a movable cover section, a hinge construction comprising spaced hinge members on the body section formed integrally therewith, spaced hinge members on the cover` section formed integrally therewith and each aligned with one of the hinge members on the body section, said aligned hinge members having adjacent opposed coacting surfaces, a hinge pin formed integrally with and extending between said hinged members on said cover section, said pin being formed with an enlargement having iiat face portions disposed at an angle to each other and offset from the axis of the pin, and a tongue member formed integrally With the body section between the corresponding hinge members and projecting vertically upward above and horizontally outwardly from said body section and adapted to coact with said face a 1 i* i portions for retaining the sections in hinged relation and for holding the cover section in either a closed position or an open position, at least one of said tongue and said pin being resilient.

FINN H. MAGN'US.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: 

